Republic of Ireland U-21s 3 Cyprus U-21 0: The Republic of Ireland's youngsters made the perfect start to their European Championship qualifying campaign as they stretched their superb unbeaten record to 13 matches.
Don Givens' side were never troubled against their Cypriot counterparts in their opening Group Four encounter at Kilkenny's Buckley Park, with Sheffield Wednesday's Glen Whelan, John Fitzgerald of Blackburn and Cork City's Kevin Doyle all on target.
Givens had conceded before the game his players were full of confidence following their streak which now stretches back to June 2003, and it showed against poor opposition.
From the opening seconds, the Republic dominated the game. However, they failed to turn their superiority into the goals they deserved during the opening half hour.
Following a momentary lapse in the Cypriot defence inside 20 seconds when Sunderland's Stephen Elliott stung the fingers of goalkeeper Demetris Stylianou with an angled drive, Givens' side then struggled to create chances.
Despite the skill of frontline duo Elliott and Celtic's Aiden McGeady, the visitors' backline were composed and organised, and it required a degree of patience before Givens' team finally made the 34th-minute breakthrough.
McGeady, who had seen a cross deflect on to the left-hand post in the eighth minute and a 33rd-minute drive flash over the bar, instigated the opener seconds later with a ball out wide to Elliott on the right wing.
Elliott's vision then led to an incisive through ball into Whelan who then proceeded to finish with power as he rifled his maiden under-21 goal into the roof of the net from 15 yards.
After Elliott had flashed a shot on the turn inches past the right-hand post in the 49th minute, the Republic deservedly doubled their lead on the hour.
Norwegian referee Per Ivar Staberg flashed yellow cards at Georgios Kontoleftherou and Georgios Merkis for crude fouls on Elliott and Liam Kearney in quick succession.
Staberg had played an advantage after the first challenge before pulling play up after the second.
From the free-kick for the tackle on Elliott, goalscorer Whelan turned provider with a flighted ball to the far post where Fitzgerald maintained his impressive record for a centre back with his fourth goal in seven games as he powered home a header.
The finishing touch of a game in which Swansea goalkeeper Brian Murphy never had a save to make came in the 78th minute when Doyle touched home Darren Potter's far-post cross for his third goal in six matches.